On Tuesday, U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01), along with Reps. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13), and Daniel Webster (FL-11), sent an official request to President Joe Biden calling for him to use his presidential authorities to declare “an anticipated mass migration from Haiti aliens en route to the United States” through Florida. The president’s declaration will allow the U.S. Navy to reinforce Florida’s efforts to conduct maritime interdictions and repatriation of Haitians.
Last week, during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, a Department of Defense (DoD) official acknowledged there is an anticipated mass migration from Haiti coming into the United States and that the Biden administration is considering using the U.S. Navy to assist the U.S. Coast Guard to interdict and repatriate migrants before they reach U.S. soil and cause an undue burden on Florida. Under 46 U.S.C. 70051, when the president declares a national emergency due to anticipated mass migration en route to the United States, the DoD, pursuant to Executive Order 13276 signed by President George W. Bush, could offer naval assistance to the U.S. Coast Guard to interdict and repatriate migrants before they reach U.S. soil.
Full text of Congressman Gaetz’s letter to President Biden can be found HERE. Additionally, exclusive coverage of the letter by Fox News can be found HERE, and coverage by CBS 12 West Palm Beach on the anticipated Haitian migration can be found HERE.
LETTER TEXT
Dear Mr. President:
We write to request that you exercise your authority under 46 U.S. Code § 70051 and declare an “anticipated mass migration of aliens en route to, or arriving off the coast of, the United States” as urgent circumstances requiring an immediate federal response.
On March 14, 2024, during the House Armed Services Committee hearing on North and South Command posture, General Laura Richardson, Commander of United States Southern Command, stated: “I think that we need to be postured appropriately [to address the threat of mass migration from Haiti], for that is exactly what you’re talking about. And I have put in a request for increased capability to do exactly that. And we are ready if a mass migration if we need to deal with a mass migration.” Additionally, Gen. Richards was asked: “Can I leave this discussion, believing that it will be your best military advice to the administration to utilize DoD assets for this purpose?” She responded: “I’m requested to do that. I will definitely do that.”
While on the same day, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, announced Florida will deploy additional law enforcement resources to the southern regions of the state in anticipation of a possible wave of Haitian migrants as the Caribbean country struggles amid street violence and political instability, we believe the resources are insufficient to address the scope and scale of the anticipated mass migration. A declaration pursuant to Executive Order 13276 is necessary to reinforce the State of Florida’s efforts by utilizing Department of Defense vessels to conduct maritime interdictions and interceptions of aliens from Haiti and repatriate them, preferably to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as this limits the financial obligation of U.S. taxpayers.
We urge you to engage the necessary assets to conduct maritime interdictions and interceptions of Haitians under 46 U.S. Code § 70051 and Executive Order 13276 and repatriate them to Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Sincerely,
Matt Gaetz
Member of Congress
Gus Bilirakis
Member of Congress
Anna Paulina Luna
Member of Congress
Daniel Webster
Member of Congress
Biden’s no border policies have allowed an invasion of eight million illegals and counting. These numbers include terrorists and criminals. Now four congressional people send a letter about the impending invasion of criminally minded Haitians requesting our Navy blockade them? What a joke.